3D Gamer Computer VERY Unstable

[htimst]

Hi,

I have a computer, when running hardcore 3D games, crashes to a hard boot or gives the BSOD (blue screen of death) within 2-10 minutes of gameplay.

This is the setup:

PIV 2.53 Processor
Intel 850EMV2 Mobo (P19 Bios)
1G PC 1066 RAM
Radeon 9700 Pro Videocard (6193 Drivers)
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum
WinXP Pro SP1

In anything but 3D games, this computer is fast and solid with huge performance of both memory and processor. But as soon as hardcore 3D games are run (example: Unreal 2003, America's Army Operations, Battlefield 1942) it goes to the Audigy Squeal of Death, the WinXP Blue Screen of Death, or a hard boot crash.

The only way I can prevent the crashing is to make the following adjustments to the ATI control panel.

This image is a working ATI control panel setup. I can play games for a short period of time before crashing...sometimes up to 20 minutes:

In this configuration I can play for about 30 seconds.

I have the latest drivers for mobo, latest bios, latest ATI drivers (even latest unpublished ones), latest audigy drivers.

Any ideas? I have been through the slot changes, I have ajusted the BIOS to increase the AGP apature to 256, I have enabled hardware IRQ preferences (at Intel's request) and have changed drivers with uninstalling the existing set first. I have flatlined the entire system and started with bare drivers twice. I have removed the Audigy completely and still gotten the same problem.

I hope I have provided useful information.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[JLSigman]

Have you tried putting the settings to Performance instead? It almost sounds like the card is getting over-worked and spilling garbage into the XP environment. Jennifer Sigman
1/2 of the IT staff (does that make me assistant manager?)

 

[JLSigman]

Another thing, sorry... have you uninstalled SP1? Jennifer Sigman
1/2 of the IT staff (does that make me assistant manager?)

 

[htimst]

I havn't tried sliding to performance, no. This system has SP1 installed.

Thanks...

 

[JLSigman]

Try the performance settings... and blech about having SP1 installed, is there no way to uninstall it from Add/Remove programs? Jennifer Sigman
1/2 of the IT staff (does that make me assistant manager?)

 

[htimst]

Yes, I agree...I am a tad cool towards SP1...I don't know how to get rid of it, but I can do a re-install as a last resort. I'll try those sliders and report back in a few hours.

Thanks!

 

[htimst]

I tried the sliders towards performance and it crashed immediately in America's Army Operations (Unreal Engine) and Ghost Recon. I slid them back to Quality and both games stabilized but eventually crashed within a half hour. GR went to the BSOD and AA froze all video.

ARGHH!!!

 

[JLSigman]

BLEH... well that stinks. Are you sure the games are installed properly? Other than that, SP1 might be your culprit. Jennifer Sigman
1/2 of the IT staff (does that make me assistant manager?)

 

[ShadowFox333]

Just a thought. If this is a recent system build make sure that if you are running ultra dma ata 66,100 or whatever that the cabeling is correct. Blue to MOBO grey and black to HDD and CD-ROM. If these are not correct business software runs great and Games will fall apart. Your cable needs to be 80 pin instead of 40 pin. It also helps to put the CD on the second IDE channel if you have one. Ive been building My own systems for years and always check with the MOBO mfg and ATI FAQ's. you can get a lot of info there.
Ejoy Bob

 

[htimst]

Yes, cabling is correct, nice idea though. I have checked with Intel and they say it's ATI...I ask ATI and they laugh saying that the card is used with that board by such lame duck low tech assemblers such as Alienware and Voodoo (sarcasm)...I'm going to change out the mobo and see what happens.

Thanks for suggestions to date.

Cheers!

 

[ceh4702]

There is always a chance you have one little program running that has a memory leak. The only way I know how to test for this it to turn one program off at a time form the task list. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[htimst]

Okay...I'll try shutting down processes and see what happens...as with most XP boxes, it's running a ton of crap in the background...will check that out too.

 

[htimst]

Well...I ran as few services and processes as possible, only leaving critical ones running...this took my process count to I think 12. No changes. The system still dumps in the same fashion. I'm very frustrated.

Thanks

 

[JLSigman]

I'm willing to bet money it's SP1. See if there's not some way you can get rid of it (either in the Add/Remove programs, or even a clean format and install if you can). Also, check with who made those games that they actually support Windows XP. Jennifer Sigman
1/2 of the IT staff (does that make me assistant manager?)

 

[Rentvillas]

Hows your heat inside your box lookin? The 9700 is still having a lot of driver issues since its still realitivley new. You got a strong enuff psu to power that rig? nothing less then 450 watts id hope. id try switchin up vid cards to see what happens when your run mabey a Ti in there instead.

 

[htimst]

I'm running an antec 400W supply. The case temps running full blast 3D apps is about 38C and CPU temps are about 41C.

 

[htimst]

UPDATE:

I underclocked this card from it's stock 324MHz core / 310.5MHz memory to 250/250 and all the problems went away.

Now, what does that tell me? Is this voltage to the AGP slot, power supply problem, motherboard problem? I don't know.

I took another Radeon 9700 card and put it in this machine and produced the same error exactly, so it's not the card, but possible the card with this chipset/mobo...any information on what my next move is? I havn't swapped out the mobo yet as I am trying to decide what to do.

Thanks

 

[tempo21]

are you running 8x agp ?
again a new standard with some performance issues.
BIOS AGPfastwrites on or off ??

Its not heat thats for sure, and 400w is more than enough for this rig. Weird though that uunderclocking thing. With the two pictures you posted what about going half way, 8X ansitropic, 2x anitalias, what resolution do you run your games ?? More than 1280x1024 with all those settings on may be asking too much....... T3/\/\p()
tek-tips UK branch!
_________________

http://www.tempocentral.com

 

[htimst]

I've tried those sliders all over the place. I'll check the AGP fast writes. I've looked at so many things I can't remember them all anymore. The resolution of the games doesn't seem to matter as I've run them all over the place with video settings high, low and in between.

So far, underclocking is the only thing that has worked. Just for giggles, I'm going to swap out the PSU for a 530W unit that I have access to borrow for awhile and test that. Intel is sending me a new mobo as well, I'm not sure why...other than they and ATI both feel it's voltage at the AGP slot....beats me. I'm running out of things to do though.

Cheers

 

[Rentvillas]

the 850 chipset doesnt support 8x agp. neither does intels new chipset comming out.